What type of antenna for a tube SW receiver?

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by radiodayz

Hi guys,

While doing some spring cleaning in my garage, I found an old boat anchor tube shortwave radio that I had forgotten I had . It's a Goodwill find from a couple of years ago that I never fully explored, a Knight Star Roamer. I understand from my research that these were built by hobbyists from kits back in the day.

It has a metal cabinet, lots of interesting knobs and switches, and "should" get LW, MW (AM), and four shortwave bands. It powers on and makes sounds, but doesn't tune in any stations, so it will need some restoration.

My question to the group is, I understand these need some type of external antenna, but what kind? Is there something available commercially, or will any piece of copper wire of sufficient length work?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Try taking the cover off the bottom and use contact cleaner on the band switch.
The broadcast band should work, as it uses a ferrite loopstick for that band.
Also, look for poor solder connections. A poorly soldered connection will work, when the unit is new, but it will show up later.
Those sets are transformer powered, so there's no hot chassis.